# Chapter 3
The apex—the boss of Iljinhoe, the symbol of the top who leads and commands the gang members while manifesting their existence.
It was only natural that such an apex’s sudden announcement of resignation would cause nuclear-level shockwaves at this important and major event called the Iljinhoe general assembly.
“What? What did the apex just say?”
“…Stepping down…?”
“That’s impossible. Why?”
“What… what does that mean?! Apex!!”
…Apex-nim! Sunbae-nim! …What are you… joking…
Ugh, my ears hurt. With over 2,000 people all talking at once, my ears stung even while standing still. The sports field was literally a scene of chaos after that straightforward bombshell. Everyone was asking what they’d just heard, looking at the platform with disbelieving expressions, and creating a proper atmosphere of confusion with their murmuring.
Well, I hadn’t expected any different reaction. If this were the real world, it might be different, but in this novel’s world, Iljinhoe is everything. A world where gang members rule middle and high schools. The top gang association. And the apex of the second-ranked Iljinhoe suddenly resigns. Says he’s quitting. Of course, it’s a mental breakdown for the underlings who believed in that apex. In other words, it wouldn’t be strange at all if a riot broke out.
“Senior Gu Haejin!! What on earth do you mean?!”
“That can’t be right?? You wouldn’t abandon us, would you!?”
“…Gu Haejin.”
*Gulp.*
The voices coming from everywhere were concerning enough, but right now, I was most worried about what was behind me. Surely not. Even though I was the apex, they wouldn’t try to kill me, right?
I turned my head calmly to see three people standing with different expressions. Park Hanseo, the uniformed chief of staff who was fidgeting in disbelief with a dumbfounded face; Shin Amin, the second field commander and personnel manager who showed obvious signs of confusion despite his typically low presence; and of course, lastly… Jung Ion, Gu Haejin’s only friend and number two, with a hardened expression.
Jung Ion approached with large strides. Gasp. Fuck.
Yeah, what are you going to do with that murderous stare…? Huh?! I’m the apex! Gu Haejin is the apex!
“Pfft-.”
Huh?
Pfft-? Did you just ‘pfft’?
Jung Ion laughed with that typical annoying “pfft” laugh characteristic of novel male protagonists.
Ah, fucking novel.
“As expected, you’re the best, Gu Haejin.”
This guy has lost it. He’s gone crazy. Otherwise, there’s no way he’d praise someone who essentially abandoned the Iljinhoe as “the best.” Unlike me, who frowned at these incomprehensible words, he had a rather relaxed face as he passed me by and grabbed the microphone. Shit… I’m feeling uncomfortably chilled to the bone right now. Why does that bastard have such an ominous face, as if saying, “Only I understood what you meant, so don’t worry”?
Jung Ion surveyed the dense crowd of uniformed students on the field, who were still in growing confusion. Then,
“Shut your mouths!!”
BAM, what a shock. Jung Ion instantly brought order to the venue with a single shout. It’s a secret that even I was intimidated by that yell. Anyway, in the silence where everyone closed their mouths, he began to speak in a serious tone.
“Are you anxious? Scared that Apex Gu Haejin might quit the Iljinhoe?”
“……”
“Wake up, you bastards?!”
Fuck, stop shouting. Okay? I get that you’re pissed because I said I’m quitting, but what did they do wrong?
“As you just saw, you all went crazy with agitation from the moment the apex announced his resignation. You must have been anxious. Because suddenly our Devil’s spiritual pillar and idol-like boss, Apex Gu Haejin! Declared he would step down as apex. The moment the apex resigns! Devil will fall. It would only be a matter of time before this Devil, which has maintained its reputation as one of the Four Major Iljinhoe, gets devoured by the likes of Focus, Choigang, and Coup d’état. But…!”
Hmm? Something… seems off?
“But the reason why the apex deliberately made such an announcement to you was to destroy these fearful feelings in advance. There will be bastards who attack through this confusion that makes you anxious. To scatter your hearts. That could turn the name of faith into betrayal, becoming a double-edged sword that stabs our Devil. To prevent us from festering and bursting from within, our apex boldly tested us.”
This is definitely weird.
“Apex Gu Haejin will never abandon our Devil! Remember that. We just need to believe in and follow the great leader of Devil, Gu Haejin. Kill your weak hearts and mercilessly crush any bastards who dare touch Devil’s territory. Answer me. Understood?!”
“Yes!!”
“We will follow and believe in Apex Gu Haejin, cut off Focus Apex Kim Pyeonghwa’s head, and rise to become the top-ranked Iljinhoe!!”
“Uooooohhhhh!!”
I told you! I said that was weird, didn’t I?! You crazy bastard, what are you inciting these kids to do!!
That expression of his earlier, as if saying he understood everything so don’t worry, felt strangely unsettling. Yes, it was unsettling! Everyone understood what I said, but you, Jung Ion, were the only one who didn’t. You know? And then you had the most triumphant expression, as if telling me to leave everything to you? Fuck. I just went along with it, and the worst disaster occurred. My soul was half gone from the amazing shock.
This can’t be right…? Did my Iljinhoe resignation end so meaninglessly? My wish to study normally…? My dream? Jung Ion, you son of a bitch who mercilessly shattered my dream!
When did I ever say that, huh? I said I was quitting, but how the fuck can you interpret that so elaborately! When did I say it was to destroy fearful feelings in advance? When did I say I boldly tested anyone? I only said one thing, “I quit.” And that bastard Jung Ion treated it like a Korean language exam question, freely finding the narrator’s psychology that even I didn’t know. Fuck. You’d definitely score 100 on the language section. This is ridiculous!
Moreover, Jung Ion’s final words were exactly the same as what the novel’s Gu Haejin had mumbled when he first appeared. But why?? Anyway, whether it’s Gu Haejin or Jung Ion, all these Devil guys are obsessed with cutting off Kim Pyeonghwa’s head. The level of obsession is no joke at this point. What did Kim Pyeonghwa do so wrong that they keep wanting to cut off his head? Fuck. And what sin did I commit, being possessed into this goddamn situation… waaah.
Devil! Devil! Devil! Devil! Devil!
Gu Haejin! Apex! Gu Haejin! Apex!
Please just shut up…
The field was a boiling pot of excitement with the shouts of exactly 2,025 Devil gang members. Their unified chanting was literal noise pollution. I guess no one here reports noise complaints. As I stood there with a nearly transcendent face, half ready to give up, the three guys—Jung Ion, who had just spewed incredible nonsense, and Park Hanseo and Shin Amin, who had been chanting with the kids behind me—stood at attention in front of me.
“…What now.”
“I didn’t realize that the apex spoke with such profound meaning. I’m sorry. Please forgive me!”
Already trembling with anxiety about what nonsense might come out next, they say this. Fuck. You too, uniform kid? Following Park Hanseo, even Shin Amin bowed his head. Come on, please stop… This brother can’t endure anymore. I didn’t even have the strength to respond, so I just nodded vaguely. Jung Ion spoke.
“I was the only one who noticed, but even I was a bit surprised when you said you were quitting.”
I’m telling you, you’re the only one who got it wrong.
In this short time, my emotional drain had made my head tired. Ah, I don’t care. Everyone just go away. When will this fucking Iljinhoe general assembly thing end?
“Devil, everyone shout!”
Suddenly, Jung Ion ordered the gang members in a booming voice. Fuck. What now! What!
That’s right. It’s not over until it’s over. Because soon, shocking words erupted from his mouth.
“Our Devil!”
Our Devil!!
“Pledges loyalty to the Thousand-Year Prince, Apex Gu Haejin!”
Pledges loyalty!!
In the end, that day, both the sports field and my mental state exploded.
I really
want to die.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
